With her team still playing into the semifinals of the WNBA Playoffs, former UNC standout–and current member of the Atlanta Dream–Jessica Breland earned a place on the league’s All-Defensive First Team.

It is the first such selection of Breland’s seven-year career, and comes after she finished third in the WNBA with an average of 1.9 blocks per game.

She is joined on the team by Los Angeles Sparks guard Alana Beard (the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year), Phoenix Mercury forward Brittney Griner, Jasmine Thomas of the Connecticut Sun and Natasha Howard of the Seattle Storm.

Teams were selected by the WNBA’s 12 head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players.

Breland and the Dream are currently tied 1-1 in the WNBA semifinals against the Washington Mystics. The next game in the series is scheduled for Friday night at 8 p.m.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics